April is Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) Month, so let’s give a big virtual high five to our public relations colleagues who hold accreditation!
The Dallas chapter of PRSA has 60 accredited members so far, and there are more who are eligible to join “Club APR.” If you already have your accreditation, we challenge you to encourage a colleague to start the APR journey. If not, here are five reasons to start:
Authority: The APR helped lift me to the next rung of the professional ladder at a pivotal time. However, I wouldn’t have had the guts to take the accreditation plunge without the encouragement of a friend. The APR stamped my resume with a seal of credibility. It also handed me a strong network of PR friends and mentors who I could call for advice.
Growth: PR is a fast and furious profession. We have to be early adopters of new technology and new methods to keep brands on top. But how often do you have the chance to polish the brand called you? The accreditation process is an “AHA!” moment because we see how the PRSA body of knowledge applies in real life. The APR is more than a credential. It stops the world to reflect on the big picture. It’s the only laser-focused program exclusively for our profession.
Timing: When I was a new grad, I was dazzled by tactics and tools but impatient with those annoying research, planning and evaluation steps. I was only focused on the implementation. Frankly, my viewpoint was myopic at that point because I didn’t have enough experience. The strategy part of our profession was more digestible for me at the seven-year mark. That’s when I was APR-ready. We progress when we embrace the power of lifelong learning…when we are ready. FYI, PRSA recommends candidates have at least five years of professional PR experience before pursuing accreditation.
Investment: Before I sat for the exam, I considered graduate school but couldn’t afford it on my humble, non-profit salary. Accreditation was a fraction of the cost of grad school, and it has paid off again and again.
You’ve got this! Your experience is your APR superpower. If you wonder if you can, you can. If you wonder if you should, you should…because YOU DESERVE IT! The APR is a credential you earn, and it’s yours. You get to keep it forever no matter where you go. Remember, you are not alone because your local Accreditation Committee is here to help. Just reach out to Linda Goeltzer.
Consider this a formal invitation from your chapter to dip your toe in the APR pool. It’s not a cakewalk, but it is 100% worth every step.
Lisa R. Vasquez, APR
President-Elect, PRSA Dallas
Vice President of Advancement and Adjunct Professor of Public Relations, Collin College
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